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Pursuing Yaqeen: How to Build Unshakeable Faith and Trust in God | Blog
The dunya is given to those Allah loves and those He hates but He only grants conviction and certainty to those He loves. Explore how to strengthen your faith with Yaqeen.
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Published: December 23, 2023 •Jumada al-Thani 10, 1445
Updated: January 8, 2024 •Jumada al-Thani 26, 1445
Read time: 10 min
The meaning of Yaqeen in Islam
And [recall] when Abraham said, “My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead.” He said, “Do you not believe?” Abraham said, “Of course, I do, but just so my heart can be reassured.”1
And among humanity are those who worship Allah on the verge [of faith]; if some good reaches him, he is reassured by it; but if some trial befalls him, he turns his back [on faith]—losing out on this world and the hereafter. That is truly the clearest loss.2
The earliest of this nation will find strength in its austerity (zuhd) and certainty (yaqīn), and its last will face destruction in its stinginess (bukhl) and false hopes (amal).4
And seek help through patience and prayer, and it is indeed a burden except for the humble—those certain that they will meet their Lord and to Him they will return.6
Only through certainty was Paradise ever sought, and only through certainty was the Hellfire ever fled from, and only through certainty were [proper] intentions for the obligations made, and only through certainty was adhering to the truth endured. It is a profound favor [of God] to be spared of trials, for by Allah, everyone appeared comparable during ease, and then they were separated when the trial descended.7
...and [grant us, O Allah] a share of certainty (yaqīn) that would lighten for us the calamities of this world.8
They [only] know the apparent nature of this worldly life. As for the hereafter, they are with regards to it completely oblivious.9
O servants of the Most Gracious, know that you are working these short days for truly long days, and in this perishing world for a permanent world, and in this realm of grief and exhaustion for a realm of bliss and immortality. But whoever will not act with certainty in that, let them not trouble themselves.10
Oh, how remarkable is the sleeping of the intelligent and their eating, and how it surpasses the sleeplessness of the foolish and their fasting. A speck’s weight of righteousness from a person with piety (taqwā) and certainty (yaqīn) is superior to, heavier, and greater than a mountainload of worship from the deluded.11
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Three Steps to Certainty
(1) Build faith by studying islam
So put your trust in Allah, for you are certainly upon the clear truth.12
(2) Build faith by avoiding sinful acts
So be patient, for the promise of Allah is certainly true, and seek forgiveness for your sins and glorify the praises of your Lord morning and evening.15
(3) Build faith by seeking righteous company
So be patient, for the promise of Allah is undoubtedly true. And do not let those without certainty cause you to waver in faith.18
And We made from among them leaders, guiding by Our command, when they were patient and [when] they were certain of Our signs.19
As for the believer (or: “the certain”), he will say, “That [man you ask about] was Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah. He came to us with clear proofs and guidance, so we accepted him and followed him.” It will be said to him, “Rest in comfort, we have verified that you had actual certainty.” As for the hypocrite (or: “the doubter”), he will say, “I don’t know. I heard the people saying something, so I said it as well.”20
References
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